Tests – · 1 test Owners 69 · 658 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 19 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“Just had these Pilot Sport A/S 3+ installed to replace OEM Dunlops”
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ vs Michelin Primacy HP — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 0 road tests and 658 + 205 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is ahead, 73–63
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests – · none yet Owners 62 · 205 reviews
“I have these tires on my 2013 GL550 and they handle really well here in Chicago. They are a little loud for me, but do great in the snow and rain.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ +1064Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Primacy HP Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 72 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 77 62 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 77.4 = 74
Primacy HP: 60% × 65.7 (est.) + 40% × 62.4 = 64
No road tests of dry for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
No road tests of dry for Primacy HP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
-
78
Wet
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ +1365Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Primacy HP Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 76 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online 80 63 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 75.9 (est.) + 40% × 80.1 = 78
Primacy HP: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 63.1 = 65
No road tests of wet for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
No road tests of wet for Primacy HP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
60
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Primacy HP Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 65 (est.) – Reviews found online 53 – Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 64.9 (est.) + 40% × 52.7 = 60
No road tests of snow for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
-
63
Comfort
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ +261Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Primacy HP Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 60 58 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60 = 63
Primacy HP: 40% × 66.5 (est.) + 60% × 57.6 = 61
No road tests of comfort for Pilot Sport A/S 3+. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Primacy HP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
-
69
Treadwear
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ +663Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Primacy HP Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 73 ≈ 65 (est.) Reviews found online 64 61 Pilot Sport A/S 3+: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 63.5 = 69
Primacy HP: 60% × 64.6 (est.) + 40% × 61.1 = 63
No road tests of treadwear for Primacy HP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
67
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ +859Why this score
Source Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Primacy HP Reviews found online 67 59
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | Michelin Primacy HP |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 63 |
| Dry | 74 | 64 |
| Wet | 78 | 65 |
| Snow | 60 | – |
| Comfort | 63 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 63 |
| Handling (owners) | 67 | 59 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Pilot Sport A/S 3+
63
/ 100
Primacy HP
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | Primacy HP | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/19 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires | #5/6 2010 Autocar Tyre Test - FWD | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Pros
- Dry and wet grip, cornering, and steering response, with many reviewers describing it as close to a summer tire. Wet traction and hydroplaning resistance are especially praised.
- Large improvement over OEM tires (Pirelli, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental) and especially over run-flats, with better ride, handling and often less noise.
- Good light-snow and cold-weather capability for an ultra-high-performance all-season tire, which lets owners avoid separate summer and winter sets.
Cons
- Premature treadwear is the most common complaint. Many report 10k–25k miles, rear tires and staggered setups wearing fastest, and some cases of tread chunking, flaking, cracking or dry rot. Many call the 45k warranty unrealistic.
- Road noise, including humming, droning or roaring around 60–75 mph. It often worsens with wear, and some reviewers say it is among the loudest tires they have owned.
- Weak snow and ice traction for some owners. Some describe it as unsafe, especially in deeper snow or on RWD cars, and say it falls short of the marketed winter rating.
Tire B Primacy HP
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and longevity
- Strong dry-road grip and handling
- High fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance
Cons
- Noticeable decline in wet-weather grip as tread depth decreases
- High retail price compared to competitors
- Increased road noise as the tire ages
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Community members widely praise the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ for its dry handling, wet grip, and substantial improvement in ride comfort over stock tires. However, several users express reservations about its poor traction in genuine snow conditions and note that road noise can become prominent as the tread wears. It is frequently compared against competitors like the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 as well as its successor, the Pilot Sport All Season 4.
r/WRX
·28 upvotes ·2017-12-19
“Just had these Pilot Sport A/S 3+ installed to replace OEM Dunlops”
civicx.com
·3 upvotes ·2020-11-18
“The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is what I have on my car, they are quieter and offer a softer ride than the stock Goodyear eagle sport, and are also grippier. Best of both worlds, and it's a decent price.”
myg37.com
“Have had excellent luck with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+. Great wet traction, rides nice, good life, super dry handling etc. Those would be my top pick.”
Top themes
#Dry cornering grip#Wet traction performance#Snow traction limitations#Road noise over time#Ride comfort comparison#Balancing and tire pressure#Comparison to Continental DWS
Based on 47 community posts
Tire B
Mixed
Michelin Primacy HP
Community opinion on the Michelin Primacy HP is divided depending on use case: enthusiasts frequently criticize them for lacking grip compared to dedicated Pilot Sport performance tires, though many appreciate their playful, low-traction slide characteristics on cars like the GR86/BRZ. Owners also note their low rolling resistance and suitability for mild climates, but raise occasional discussions around shoulder cracking with age and their limitation as summer-only rubber.
r/ft86
·3 upvotes ·2016-01-25
“You will notice the difference, but if you don't track, autocross, or canyon carve, I wouldn't bother. You don't have to stick with Primacy but it's not worth the PSS. The only reason I would go PSS in that instance, is if the price is similar to Primacy HP (it might actually be similar). If you drive in snow at all I would not go with PSS. Do not go with anything more aggressive than PSS for day to day street driving. There are people who daily drive more aggressive RS3s, RE-71s, ZII Star Specs, etc. but they track/autocross, know the limits, and take it easy around standing water.”
bobistheoilguy.com
·2021-12-28
“I noticed these cracks at around spring this year. The car experiences frequent moments of hard driving so I'm thinking of replacing the tires next spring when the car comes out of hibernation as I'm a little worried about how they're going to hold up despite there still being plenty of thread left. The tires are original to the car (2016 Scion FRS). Date code of this one is 4215, but they're all within a couple of weeks or so and they're all in the same condition. Tires and car have 25,000km on them.”
gr86.org
·2024-11-11
“So long as you’ve got some tread, the stock Primacy HP tires are plenty safe for Bay Area weather all year ‘round. Just don’t drive anywhere that gets real winter weather or freezing temps. I’d avoid trips up to Tahoe in January. And don’t climb Mt. Diablo or Mt. Hamilton when they get their occasional dusting of snow. (I live in upstate NY now, so I’m familiar with tires & winter conditions …but I’m also a Bay Area native.)”
Top themes
#grip vs playfulness#comparison to pilot sport#summer tire limitations#tread cracking concerns#low rolling resistance#oem fitment discussion
Based on 36 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | B · Michelin Primacy HP |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| UTQG | 500 AA A | 240 A A |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
63
/ 100
Michelin Primacy HP
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ — better wet, dry and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 78 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 74 vs 64 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 67 vs 59 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ scores 69 vs 63 on treadwear.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Tire B · Michelin Primacy HP
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Primacy HP?
Which is better in the wet, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Primacy HP?
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+, 78 vs 65 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Primacy HP?
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+, 74 vs 64 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Primacy HP?
Neither, by our numbers: 63 vs 61 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Primacy HP?
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+, 69 vs 63 on our treadwear score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology